A shocking bicycle kick and two stoppage-time objectives sealed Scotland’s dramatic return to the World Cup after a 28-year wait.

Austria wanted a late equalizer to additionally make it again to soccer’s showcase occasion for the primary time since 1998, whereas top-ranked Spain clinched its spot after equaling Italy’s 31-match unbeaten report in aggressive video games in Europe.

Belgium and Switzerland additionally secured their locations for the 2026 World Cup as European qualifying completed Tuesday. 5 automated spots have been nonetheless accessible in Europe.

Scotland beat 10-man Denmark 4-2 in a winner-take-all match in Group C, with Scott McTominay scoring an outstanding bicycle kick aim three minutes into the match, sending the Hampden Park crowd into raptures.

A draw would have given Denmark the group win and the Danes have been in good place after Patrick Dorgu equalized within the 82nd, however Kieran Tierney put the hosts forward once more three minutes into added time. Kenny McLean then sealed Scotland’s qualification eight minutes into stoppage time when he chipped goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel from the midway line.

“We’ve been on a journey. I spoke to them about it pre-match, about how that is the chance we’ve waited for. What an evening, eh?” Scotland coach Steve Clarke mentioned. “This was the possibility, one recreation. This was like a playoff last. We put every little thing on the road. There’s at all times one final step and it’s at all times the toughest.”

Denmark, which noticed Rasmus Kristensen despatched off within the 62nd, completed second within the group, two factors behind Scotland.

A 1-1 house draw towards Bosnia and Herzegovina was sufficient for Austria to win Group H and return to the World Cup after a 28-year wait, whereas Belgium routed Liechtenstein 7-0. Switzerland certified after a 1-1 draw at Kosovo.

The 12 group winners certified straight, whereas the runners-up will take part in playoffs together with the 4 best-ranked group winners of the 2024-25 Nations League that didn’t end first or second of their teams.

The playoffs will probably be performed on March 26 and March 31. The World Cup will probably be performed in the USA, Mexico and Canada from June 11-July 19.

Mikel Oyarzabal scored the equalizer within the 62nd minute and Spain drew 2-2 with Turkey at house to increase its unbeaten streak — which started in a match towards Italy within the semifinals of the Nations League in 2023 — to 31 matches in Europe, in accordance with UEFA and Spain’s soccer federation. Italy’s report got here between 2018 and 2021. It ended with a 2-1 loss to Spain within the Nations League last.

The one manner La Roja would have misplaced first place was if it was defeated by seven objectives or extra. Turkey was second within the group.

“We wished to complete with out conceding a aim. A bittersweet style, however we’re comfortable to qualify for the World Cup,” mentioned Dani Olmo, who scored for Spain 4 minutes into the match in Seville.

Already eradicated Bulgaria beat Georgia 2-1 at house.

Belgium reached its fourth straight World Cup by trouncing Liechtenstein to win Group J. Charles De Ketelaere and Jeremy Doku every scored a pair of objectives.

Second-place went to Wales after it routed North Macedonia 7-1 at house with a hat trick by Harry Wilson. A draw would have been sufficient for North Macedonia. Each North Macedonia and Wales have been secured within the playoffs by the Nations League.

Switzerland drew with Kosovo to win Group B and safe its sixth straight World Cup look. Switzerland arrived in good place and will have assured its spot even when it had misplaced by 5 objectives. Kosovo, looking for its first World Cup look, had already secured second place.

Sweden, which will probably be within the playoffs by the Nations League, drew 1-1 Slovenia.

Already eradicated Greece and Belarus drew 0-0.

In one other winner-take-all match, Austria held Bosnia and Herzegovina to a draw at house to win Group H and make it again to the World Cup for the primary time since 1998 in France. Michael Gregoritsch scored the equalizer that Austria wanted to qualify within the 77th.

“It was troublesome. It was actually troublesome,” Austria coach Ralf Rangnick mentioned. “Conceding a aim naturally made it much more troublesome. However then we threw every little thing into it and have been finally rewarded. If Bosnia play like this, they may progress too.”

Bosnia and Herzegovina, which final performed in soccer’s showcase occasion in 2014 in Brazil, ended second and will probably be within the playoffs.

Third-place Romania, within the playoffs by the Nations League, routed San Marino 7-1 at house.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer